Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
In Madrid, Spain, a mysterious serial killer ruthlessly murders his victims by recreating the first appearance of several comic book superheroes. Cosme, a veteran police inspector who is about to retire, works on the case along with the tormented inspector David Valentín and his own son Jorge Elías, a nerdy young man who owns a comic book store.
Unknown Origins earns genuine novelty points for its inventive central conceit — murders staged to recreate the origin stories of iconic comic book superheroes — which gives the film a distinctive, geeky personality rarely seen in Spanish crime thrillers. The premise is fresh and the comic book world-building adds real texture. The plot is serviceable but uneven, leaning on familiar serial-killer procedural beats once the novel hook is established. Acting is competent across the board without being remarkable. Cinematography is solid Madrid-set genre work, functional and occasionally stylish but not distinctive. The ending disappoints, resolving the mystery in a way that feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying given the creative setup, undercutting the promise of the first two acts.